Rila Mountains Jeep Safari: Evangelous Stone & Roman Ruins

Open jeep through Bulgaria's highest peaks, Roman roads and a legendary stone triangle

A private jeep safari through the Rila Mountains, Bulgaria's highest range, departing from Sapareva Banya with a professional driver and live guide in English or Russian. The tour passes St. Stephen's Monastery, the Silver area, and the Pariloto excavation site where Roman artifacts from the ancient Dalmatian Road were uncovered, and includes the Evangelous Stone, a rock formation shaped like an inverted pyramid where legend says sins are forgiven if you pass through its triangle base. Children from age 4 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Jeep safari through Rila Mountains

• Start journey in Sapareva Banya
• Pass St. Stephen's Monastery
• Drive through the Silver area
• Visit Pariloto excavation site
• See Evangelous Stone rock formation
• Enjoy mountain views and photos

The experience

The Rila Mountains rise 2,925 meters at their peak (the highest in Bulgaria and the entire Balkan Peninsula), and the jeep does the climbing for you. Starting from Sapareva Banya, a city known for its hot mineral springs and the country's only geyser-fountain at 103°C, the route winds through mountain passes where you'll see St. Stephen's Monastery and the Silver area before reaching the Pariloto, where excavation work in 1915 turned up Roman artifacts. This stretch of road was once part of the Dalmatian Road, a major military route through the ancient empire.

The centerpiece is the Evangelous Stone, a rock formation that resembles an inverted pyramid. At its base a triangle opens through the stone, and local legend holds that anyone with sins who can pass through it will be forgiven. The jeep gets you to these stops without the hiking. You walk to them if you choose. The driver is professional and the guide speaks English or Russian, so the route and the history stay clear even as the terrain gets rough. Two hours covers the main sights and the mountain views that make the trip worth the open-air ride.

What’s included

• Professional driver and a live guide in English or Russian.
• transport in an open 4x4 jeep through mountain passes and glacial terrain.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by MeOnTour - from locals to glocals

Is this one for you?The jeep does the climbing, but the terrain is rough and the ride is open-air. Book this if you want the mountain views and the Roman history without a long hike, and you're comfortable with two hours on unpaved roads.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the Evangelous Stone and why does it matter to this tour?

The Evangelous Stone is a rock formation in the Rila Mountains shaped like an inverted pyramid, with a triangle opening at its base. Local legend says that people with sins who can pass through the triangle will be forgiven. It's the signature stop on this jeep route and the reason many travelers choose it.

Does the tour include walking, or do we stay in the jeep the whole time?

You can walk to the sites if you like: the description notes it's optional and extraordinary. The jeep gets you to the trailheads and the viewpoints, so the amount of walking is up to you.

What Roman history will we actually see on this tour?

The Pariloto is an excavation site where Roman artifacts were found in 1915, proving Roman presence in the area. This site was one of the stops on the Dalmatian Road, an ancient military route through the region. The tour passes through this area and explains the history as you go.